lay of the land
how the land lies
The natural features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys.
The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.
The way something is arranged; the important facts about something; how things are.
The banker wanted to check the lay of the land before buying the stock.
Before the new boy will join our club, he wants to see how the land lies.
safety island
safety zone
A raised area in a highway or road to be used only by people walking.
John was half-way across the street when the light changed. He stayed on the safety island until it changed again.
see how the land lies
To reconnoiter; investigate.
Before going there in person to ask for a job, you had better see how the land lies and who does what.